Cost of Living in Middlesex County, Massachusetts
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Middlesex County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Middlesex County ranks #3,122 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Middlesex County Median Monthly Gross Rent Reaches $2,201
In Middlesex County, the median gross rent was estimated at $2,201 per month according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $585 higher than the Massachusetts unweighted county mean of $1,616 per month. The median household income for all households in the county was $130,847, while the median renter-household income was lower at $84,135. Regarding housing affordability for renters, the official ACS B25071 GRAPI, which measures median gross rent as a percentage of household income, was 28.8%. This percentage is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Massachusetts unweighted county mean for official GRAPI of 31.7%. For homeowners, the median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $2,520, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $2,087. The median home value in the county was reported at $727,800, which is $93,543 above the unweighted county mean for the state. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Middlesex County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 28.8% of renter household income in Middlesex County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,201 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,520. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $88,040 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Massachusetts unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,616 per month. Middlesex County's $2,201 median is 36.2% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Middlesex County
Rent Burden
20.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,053
per month
Owner Cost Burden
23.1%
of gross income
The median home in Middlesex County may be a stretch
Median home value is $727,800. Estimated monthly cost: $5,810 vs. your max of $3,053.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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